Qatar Univ. Sci. Bull.

( 1986 ), 6: 317-328

MESOZOIC IGNEOUS ACTIVITY IN EGYPT

M. Y. MENEISY*
Department of Geology, University ofQatar

Key words : Geochronology- Mesozoic- Igneous- Egypt.

ABSTRACT
A geochronological sequence of the main phases of igneous activity in Egypt during the
Mesozoic is presented in this paper. This is essentially based on scrutinized isotopic age
data. New K I Ar ages are also included.
Three main phases are outlined :
1. Early Triassic- Late Permian ( 230 ± 10 Ma ).
2. Late Jurassic- Early Cretaceous ( 140 ± 10 Ma ).
3. Late Cretaceous ( 90 ..._ 10 Ma ).
An attempt is made to relate these phases with tectonic events.

INTRODUCTION
Igneous activity in Egypt during the Mesozoic was extensive and resulted in the
intrusion and extrusion of various rock types which are abundant and diversified in
size, form and composition. They include basaltic rocks, alkaline ring complexes as
well as minor granitic intrusions. These rocks were the subject of several geological,
petrological and geochronological studies, especially in the last two decades.
In the light of these studies and the availability of new isotopic age data, a
temporal and spatial correlation is attempted in this work. New K I Ar ages
obtained by the writer are also included. The rock types, their origin, tectonic
setting and ages are presented. The isotopic age data were scrutinized and used to
construct a sequence of the main phases of Mesozoic igneous activity. The
Geological Time Table compiled by Van Eysinga and published by Elsevier
( 1978 ) is used as reference in this work.

THE MAIN ROCK TYPES

The largest Mesozoic volcanic association in Egypt namely that of Wadi
Natash, southern Eastern Desert, is of Late Cretaceous age. Several of the ring

• Permanent Address: Geology Dept., Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University- Cairo.
 Mesozoic Igneous Activity in Egypt

complexes were, at least partly, formed during the Mesozoic (e.g. Abu Khrug,
El-Kahfa, El-Naga, £!-Mansouri, Nugrub El-Fogani, Nugrub El- Tahtani and
Mishbeh ). A few small granitic bodies in the Eastern Desert are assigned to the Late
Cretaceous. Basaltic dikes, sills, flows and plugs scattered in the Eastern and
Western Deserts and in Sinai were intruded or extruded during the Mesozoic. The
volcanic rocks of Wadi Araba and Abu Darag arc assigned a Lower Cretaceous age.

ISOTOPIC AGE DATA

Available isotopic age data are compiled and carefully examined. Some fifty
reliable ages, including new K I Ar ages obtained by the writer are presented in
Table l.
Table : 1 Isotopic determinations yielding Mesozoic ages
0
No. Locality Age(Ma) Method Rock Reference

1 ) Early Triassic Ages :

l. Farsh El-Azrag, 238 ± 3 K/Ar Olivine Meneisy
West Central Sinai 233 ± 3 basalt (This work)

2. G. Zarget Naam 247 ± 13 Rb/Sr Syenite Hashad & El-

S.E.D. Reedy ( 1979 )

3. Uweinat area 235 ± 5 K/Ar Dike Klerx & Rundle

S.W.D. basaltic ( 1976 )

4. El-Gezira 229 ± 5 K/ Ar (b) Gabbro Serencsits

S.E.D. et a!. ( 1979 )

5. G. Bir Urn Hebal 223 ± 9 Rb/Sr Granosyenite

S.E.D.
Hashad& El-
6. G. Silaia 221 ± 12 Rb/Sr Granite Reedy ( 1979 )
S.E.D.

7. G. El-Naga 220 ± 20 Rb/Sr Ne-Syenite El-Shazly

S.E.D. ( 1977 )
2 ) Late Jurassic- Early Cretaceous Ages :
8. G. El-Naga 148 ± 3 K/ Ar(b) Umptekite Serenscits et a!.
S.E.D. 146 ± 3 " " ( 1979)
145 ± 3
145 ± 3 Ne-Syenite
146 ± 6 Rb/Sr Ne-Syenite Hashad & El Reedy
( 1979 )

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 M. Y. MENEISY

Cont. Table 1

No. Locality Age(Ma) Method Rock Reference

9. G. Mishbeh 148 ± 12 Rb/Sr Syenite

S.E.D. 141 ± 3 K/Ar Olivine Serencsits et al.
141 ± 3 (b) basalt ( 1979)

10. G. Nugrub El- 142 ± 3 K/Ar Ne-Syenite Serencsits et al.

Fogani 140 ± 3 (b) Gabbro ( 1979 )
S.E.D. 135 ± 3 Gabbro

II. G. Nugrub El- 140 ± 9 Rb/Sr Syenite Hashad & El Reedy

Tahtani, S.E.D. ( 1979 )

12. G. El-Mansouri 132 ± 10 Rb/Sr Syenite Hashad & El Reedy

S.E.D. ( 1979)

13. W. Araba 126 ± 4 K/Ar Olivine Meneisy &

N.E.D. 125 ± 4 basalt Kreuzer( 1974a)

14. W. Abu Darag 113 ± 3 Kl Ar Olivine Meneisy &

N.E.D. 115 ± 3 basalt Kreuzer( 1974a)

15. W. Natash 104 ± 7 Rb/Sr Olivine Hashad & El Reedy

S.E.D. basalt ( 1979)

3 ) Late Cretaceous :

16. G. El-Mansouri 95 ± 10 Rb/Sr Qz-Syenite ElShazly

S.E.D. ( 1977)

17. G. Zarget Naam 90 ± 10 Rb/Sr Granite E1 Shaz1y

S.E.D. ( 1977)
18. Urn Shilman 93 Rb/Sr RedMu-
S.E.D. granite El Shazly
( 1977)
90 Rb/Sr Yellow Mu-
granite

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 Mesozoic Igneous Activity in Egypt

Cont. Table : 1

No. Locality Age(Ma) Method Rock Reference

19. G. El-Naga 86 ± 3 K/Ar Ne-Syenite Meneisy &

S.E.D. 84 ± 3 Kreuzer ( 1974 b)

20. G. Abu Khrug 96 ± 2 K/Ar Ne-Syenite

S.E.D. (b) Meneisy &
88 ± 5 Kreuzer ( 1974 b)
86 ± 15

90 ± 2 K/Ar Gabbro Serencsits

89 ± 2 (b) Ne-Syenite et al. ( 1979)

21. El-Kahfa 90 ± 4 K/Ar Alk. Syenite

S.E.D. 88 ± 2 (b)
96 ± 2 (b) Ne-Syenite
93 ± 2 (h) Serencsits
88 ± 4 (b) Essexite et al. ( 1979)
91 ± 4 (b)
93 ± 2 (h)
88 ± 2 (b) Alk. Syenite

22. W. Kareim 92 K/Ar Trachyte

C. E. D. 91 Ressetar &
90 Nairn ( 1980)

(Younger 74 Rb/Sr Bostonite Sayyah et al.

generation ) isochron ( 1978 )

23. Darb El Arbain 79 ± 2 K/Ar Olivine

S.W.D. 78 ± 2 basalt Meneisy &
78 ± 3 Kreuzer ( 1974a)
76 ± 2

*Notations used: G. = Gabal, W. = Wadi, W.O. = Western Desert,

E.D. = Eastern Desert, N. = Northern, S. = Southern,
C. = Central.
• Whole rock unless otherwise specified; h = hornblende, b = biotite.

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 M. Y. MENEISY

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Three main phases of igneous activity are distinguished. These are arranged in
chronological order as follows, starting with the earliest :
I ) Permo- Triassic ( 230 ± IO Ma ).
2) Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous ( I40 ± 10 Ma ).
3 ) Late Cretaceous ( 90 ± I 0 Ma ).
The salient features of each of these phases are outlined in the following :

1) Permo-Triassic Phase ( 230 ± 10 Ma)

Related to the initial break-up of Pangea and the closure of the Tethys. This
period is characterized by rapid polar wandering. Records of volcanicity related to
the uplift ofthe Aswan-Uweinat massif exist.
In the Upper Permian- Lower Triassic, the area between Gabal Uweinat and Bir
Safsaf, South Western Desert was uplifted along zones of pre-existing crustal
weakness and these reactivated fractures gave way to the intrusion of basaltic dikes
around 235 Ma as well as rhyolite subvolcanics around 2I6 Ma ( Schandelmier and
Darbyshire, I984 ). It is pointed out that a group of K I Ar ages falling in the range
of230 ± I5 Ma is also reported from northeast Sudan (Vail, I976 ).
Recently, the writer obtained K I Ar ages indicating a Permo- Triassic age ( 238
Ma) for an olivine basaltic sheet from Farsh El-Azraq volcanics, West Central
Sinai. This sheet (about 70 m thick) overlies the Upper Carboniferous Abu Zarah
Formation and is locally covered by Cretaceous (?) Nubian Sandstone. These
basaltic rocks .subareally erupted along deep seated faults, and were derived from
an olivine tholeiitic magma.

2 ) Late Jurassic- Early Cretaceous Phase ( 140 ± 10 Ma )

This phase of igneous activity is related to the initial rifting of the South Atlantic
and the corresponding Africa-South America compression and Afro-Arabian
strike-slip faulting. Many blocks were affected by this event.
Most of the masses which yield isotopic ages in the range of I40 ± I5 Ma are
typically alkalic ring complexes and include those of Gabal Mishbeh, Gabai
Nugrub El Tahtani, Gabal Nugrub El- Fogani, Gabal El- Naga and Gabal

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 Mesozoic Igneous Activity in Egypt

El- Mansouri, in the south Eastern Desert. The isotopic age data obtained by
different methods are remarkably consistent (e.g. Serencsits et al., 1979 and Hashad
& El Reedy, 1979 ). This 140 Ma episode of alkaline magmatism in Egypt coincides
with a major episode of similar alkaline magmatism occuring in the areas
surrounding the South Atlantic and has been related to initial rifting of Africa from
South America. Ring complexes in the same age range ( 150- 130 Ma ) were
reported from northeastern Sudan ( Vail, 19 76 ).
The volcanic rocks of Wadi Araba and Abu Darag, western side of the Gulf of
Suez, are considered as related to this phase of Early Cretaceous volcanicity.
However, a slightly younger volcanic pulse may have followed. The rocks occur
mainly as dikes and plugs cutting essentially the Upper Paleozoic sedimentary
series which are exposed at the core of Wadi Araba structure and in several
localities in Abu Darag area (Abdallah et al. 1973 ). The K I Ar ages range between
126 and 155 Ma ( Meneisy & Kreuzer, 1974a) and are regarded as good minimum
ages due to possible argon loss. The petrology and petrochemistry of these volcanics
was studied by Meneisy et al. ( 1976 ). Petrographically, they are mainly
nepheline-bearing and pyroclastic rocks in Wadi Araba.
In Abu Darag, the following volcanic association was recognized : olivine
basalt-andesitic basalt and a rhyolitic variety. The Wadi Araba volcanics were
extruded into the crest of Wadi Araba anticline. The axis and plunge of which
trends from East to West. These alkali basaltic rocks appear to belong to an active
continental margin environment, being extruded within uplifted areas
( Abdel-Monem & Heikal, 1981 ). Based on clinopyroxene chemistry, Abdou
( 1983 ) suggested that the magma from which the basalts of Abu Darag were
derived was transitional in composition between those of within-plate alkaline and
within-plate tholeiitic basalts. In Sinai and the Western Desert, it is difficult- as
yet- to estimate the extent of volcanicity of this phase due to lack of data.

3 ) The Late Cretaceous ( 90 ± 10 Ma )

This phase is tectonically related to the second major episode of alkaline
magmatism and the large scale strike-slip faulting in Afro-Arabia. The Late
Cretaceous- Early Tertiary diastrophism referred to as "Laramide" or Syrian
arcing system has been the subject of considerable discussion ( e.g. Said, 1962 - El

322
 M. Y. MENEISY

Shazly, 1977 ). The most obvious folds caused by this movement are the "Syrian
arcs" noted in northern Egypt, especially in northern Sinai and the northern
Western Desert.
This is parhaps, one of the most documented events of alkalic igneous activity in
Egypt. The best record of this event is undoubtedly the volcanic rocks of Wadi
Natash about 125 km ENE of Aswan, along the boundary between the Nubian
Sandstones and the Precambrian basement complex. The exposed volcanics cover
about 600 km 2 . A number of workers have studied these volcanics ( e.g. Barthoux,
1922 El-Ramly et al., 1971 Sayyah and El Shatoury, 1973, and Abul Gadayel,
1974).
The other important event during this period of igneous activity is the alkaline
magmatism giving rise to Gabal El Kahfa, El- Mansouri, Gabal Abu Khrug and
partly Gabal El Naga ring complexes. Isotopic ages are fairly consistent, and are
roughly around 90 ± 5 Ma. It is noted that the two ring complexes of El Kahfa and
Abu Khrug fall along a northwesterly trending lineament structure called by
Brioussov ( in El Ramly et al. 1971 ) the Eriythrean trend. This may imply a
tectonic control for their intrusion. These complexes are related to one phase of
alkaline igneous activity. Wadi Natash volcanics seem also to belong to this phase
and there is evidence which suggests that they were controlled by the same
structural trend i.e. north westerly trend. Evidence includes the alignment of the
relics of the majority of older volcanics along a N 20° - 30° W trend indicating
fissure-type eruptions and the predominance of faults and fracture zones of the
same trend which Garson and Krs. ( 1976 ) interpreted as surface mainfestation of
deep-seated tectonic zones (Fig. I ).
Reference should be made here to the carbonatites in Saini and the south Eastern
Desert. The spatial and temporal affinities between African rift valley alkaline
magmatism and carbonatites are generally accepted. In south eastern Sinai, the Tarr
albitite-carbonatite complex of Wadi Kid was studied by Shimron ( 1975 ). The
complex comprises albitite masses with closely related explosion breccias, fenite
aureoles, intrusive carbonate bodies, olivine dolerite and lamprophyre dikes.

323
 Mesozoic Igneous Activity in Egypt

36
o Alkaline Complexes

26

24

22

NUBIAN
SHIELD
20

Fig.: 1 Map and tectonic lineaments, (after Garson and Krs., 1976)
Ring complexes yielding Mesozoic ages :
1- El Gezira ( 229 Ma ). 2- El Naga ( 145 Ma ).
3- Mishbeh ( 142 Ma ). 4- Nugrub El Tahtani ( 140 Ma ).
5 - Nugrub El Fogani ( 139 Ma ). 6- Mansouri ( 132 Ma ).
7- El Kahfa ( 91 Ma ). 8- Abu Khrug ( 89 Ma ).

324
 M. Y. MENEISY

Another aspect of the late Cretaceous igneous activity is the intrusion of small
bodies of granitic composition. These Cretaceous granites came to attention during
the last few years. El Shazly ( 1977 ) reported Rb I Sr ages around 90 Ma for yellow
and red muscovite granite bodies from Abu Sawyel area.
These bodies represent the northward continuation of ring complexes that
associate the East African rift system. Garson and Hussein ( Personal
Communication ) suggested that the ring complexes of Nugrub El- Fogani, Nugrub
El- Tahtani, Mishbeh, El Naga, Gezeira and Mansouri, together with the
carbonatite bodies bordering Mansouri and extending southwestwards into Sudan,
all fall on the continental trace of a zone of transform faults that extend to cut
across the axis of sea-floor spreading in the Red Sea.
Phil de Gruyter & Vogel ( 1981 ) suggested that the origin of these complexes is
due to alkaline melts having been formed in the asthenosphere by shear heating,
caused by changes in plate motion. These melts were emplaced along reactivated
Pan African fractures or pre-existing zones of weakness.
El Ramly & Hussain ( 1982) discussed the tectonic setting and petrogenesis of the
alkaline ring complexes of Egypt. They suggested that under certain favorable
geotectonic conditions ( e.g. intracontinental hot spots ) partial fusion of deeper
levels in the upper mantle could produce enough heat, volatiles and mobile
elements to melt the overlying parts of the lower crust.

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 Mesozoic Igneous Activity in Egypt

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327
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